Milton Staskal, age 87 of New London passed away on Monday, September 1, 2025.  He was born on April 7, 1938 on the farm between Fennimore and Boscobel, WI in the midst of a "once in a century" snow storm, the middle son of Magnus and Dorthea (Stenner) Staskal.  He attended the one-room Brechler grade school and graduated from Boscobel High (1955).  He attended Lakeland College, rural Plymouth WI for one year, transferred and graduated from Elmhurst College, Elmhurst IL with majors in psychology and religion (1959).  He married Gertrude (Trudy) Barbara Oechsle of Fennimore on June 5, 1959.

They lived in the rural Plymouth WI area while he attended Mission House Seminary, graduating in the school's centennial class of 1962.  He attended a number of post-graduate classes following special interests in Biblical languages, archeology and counseling and received a master's degree in Counseling from the U of Wisconsin—Oshkosh in 1973.  Throughout his ministry he attended numerous continuing education programs, knowing that even old dogs need to and can continue to learn and grow.

Milton (with his strong-helpmate, Trudy) served United Church of Christ congregations in Farmersville OH, Germantown, New London and Kewaskum WI as a full-time installed pastor. Both Milt and Trudy were always very active in the communities in which they lived.  During his ministry in New London, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of his church and community leadership. Milt was a published author of several articles.  His article on clergy housing options remains definitive.  He was invited and presented a paper at the National Cathedral in Washington DC for clergy on end of life alternatives.

For three years he was the Personnel Director and Assistant Chaplain at Cedar Lake Community (a large extended care facility) in West Bend WI area.

Following this, part-time he consecutively served two different struggling small congregations. After 5 ½ years of Milt's leadership both were able to call someone to serve them fulltime.  Concurrently, for 14 years, beginning in 1979, he was a very successful advertising salesman establishing the sales record for his company and the national sales record for the industry, achieving this working only part-time.

During this combined/shared experience he felt called to serve struggling congregations between permanent pastors and beginning in 1991 received extensive training and became an Accredited Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist.

As a transitional pastor, he and Trudy moved themselves around the country from Baltimore MD to Provo UT, two congregations in MO and throughout WI, a total of 13 different congregations.  He was nationally recognized for dealing with church conflict and turning around significantly declining congregations.  In this capacity he served congregations from 140 members (he being the only paid staff member) to a congregation of 1,900 members as head of staff with fourteen employees.  His gifts included analyzing congregational life, strong organizational abilities and sound financial stewardship/management.

In 2000 semi-retirement found Milton and Trudy settled in New London as he worked as a "tethered interim pastor" from which he retired in 2009. He has kept busy with long/short term pulpit supply in various congregations until full retirement in 2018.  He was an active volunteer -- especially at the Performance Arts Center in Appleton (15 years) and the Community Cupboard (7 years) in New London.

Milton's special interests included fishing (Lake Michigan and Wolf River), reading, playing dominoes and traveling.  He and Trudy have traveled to 43 countries (all the continents except Antarctica) and they especially enjoyed river cruising the major rivers on six continents.

Milton was an astute investor. As a result, they were able to endow a named scholarship at his seminary; establish a "mission" endowment fund at their local congregation; were the major donor for the New London Public Library Capital Campaign; donated over 1000 large print books to the New London Library  creating one of the largest large print collections in northeast WI; provided a large matching fund for the camping/outdoor ministry program of the Wisconsin Conference UCC; funded several Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity houses, challenge matching funds for establishing the Mission of Hope House Endowment Fund, New London and other major charities focusing on serving people who found themselves having "fallen through the cracks" of social programs.

Milton is survived by his wife Trudy (married for 66 years); sons James (Gina) of New London; John (Pam) of Germantown MD; Philip of New London; daughter Lynn (Kurt) of Golden CO; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  He is further survived by his brother Maynard (Marcella) of Boscobel WI and a sister-in-law Pauline of Fennimore WI; Trudy's sisters and their spouses; sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.  Milton was preceded in death by his brother, Marvin Staskal, of Fennimore WI.

A Memorial Service for Milton Staskal will be held starting at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 110 E Hancock St., New London, Pastor Steve Savides officiating.  The family will receive friends at the church at 2:00 p.m. during which time pictures will be projected celebrating Milt's life and interests.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to First Congregational UCC in New London, the New London Public Library, New London Public Museum or Mission of Hope House Endowment Fund would be appreciated.